INCREASED OC USE OF ADP PROCESSES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01577A000100010011-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 3, 2000
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: December 11, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

-*'&' NAL FORM NO. 10
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Memorandum
SCD-M70-716
TO Executive Assistant, OC DATE: 11 DEC 1970
FROM : Chief, Staff Communications Division, OC
REF : OC-M-70-703, dated 5 November 1970
1. The items pertinent to the reference will be treated with
respect to what OC-SCD is presently doing and what is felt may be
done in the future.
2. At present, the following items are used in Agency ADP
devices to allow for efficient operation.
a. Equipment Failure Reports. OC-SCD is charged with
maintaining at least 1400 individual line items. Some of
these equipments are complex. In order that better maintenance
on this equipment may be effected, a program has been developed
to determine what items fail most often. The cause of failures
"are reported and the total number pertinent to a specific item
is maintained. The component failure statistics can then be
used to predict expected failure rates and preventive maintenance
effected. This program is still in the development phase;
however, in the future, a more efficient program will become
evident.
b. Communications Equipment Program Activity (BYCEPA).
The 1+00 plus line items in use in the staff communications
system have an expected useful life. To effect a system that is
not obsolete, a plan has been devised to replace equipment on
a periodic basis. BYCEPA is a proposed plan for the future re-
placement of staff equipment on a world-wide basis in a timely
fashion.
c. Antenna Design. OC-SCD is presently using computer pro-
grams to match antenna characteristics to propagation paths for
specific staff communications requirements. These programs pro-
vide an efficient method of determining the best propagation paths
of transmitting antennas to cover specific geographic areas.
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d. Cable Traffic Analysis (CATRAN). CATRAN provides
the mechanism for reporting statistics on a
world-wide basis. It provides a management tool for determin-
ing staffing and equipping of each Agency facility and reflects
the amount of work done for other agencies.
3. The following items are included to indicate those areas where
possible automation would be cost effective.
a. Repair/Return System. A service to the field is being
offered in the development of the printed circuit board repair/return
system. It is not cost effective to maintain a stock level of all PC
boards required to maintain all equipments at every field station.
Therefore, a repair/return facility concept is being developed. A pilot
project to refine and clarify the type of information needed to make
the system cost effective was initiated.
The SG-75A (Sideband Exciter) is an item of such importance
in the system that this was selected as the pilot project item.
A manual tabulation is maintained on the failures of PC boards
associated with this equipment. As the failures are reported by
cable, a replacement board is immediately sent to the field. When
the defective board is repaired, it is placed in stock for future
issue. The failure rates are then plotted to determine trends; and,
where possible, modifications are made to mitigate the situation.
The present manual tabulation is satisfactory to cover the
single item. However, as the system concept is refined, more
equipments will be placed in the repair/return system. At that time,
it may be cost effective to computerize the repair/return system.
b. Automation of Document Updating. OC-SCD generates voluminous
specification documents for the purchase of large, complex systems.
Procedural documents listing guidelines for communications circuits
are also large volumes which must be updated periodically. At present,
when a change is made to these documents, it is necessary to retype
the complete page on which the correction is required. Many amend-
ments must be made during the life of the documents. Many hours are
consumed in simply retyping. If the original document could be stored
and corrections could be made "on line" within, the computer, corrected
pages could be expanded to include Maintenance Parts Lists (MPL's),
Mandatory Work Orders (I O's), etc.
produced manually.
4. At present, there are no automated. reports which could be better
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